The title "After the Race" is directly related to the text. In the beginning we view crowds of “greatly oppressed” on looking this major event. The local people are supporting the French even though they place second, behind the German Belgium team. It was quite common for the Irish to support the French as they, like Ireland were old rivals of the English. The story focuses on Jimmy, a privileged child from the wealthier part of Dublin who is acquaintances with many of the rich drivers. He is close with Charles Ségouin as they attended Cambridge University together and in turn Jimmy drives with him during the race. We are also introduced to two of Séguoin’s friends, Andrea Rivera, a young Canadian electrician and a Hungarian man Villona. After, Jimmy and Villnola drive through Dublin to get back to his parents house. There they change their clothes and leave again to meet the other men for dinner. Over dinner they discuss the race and French mechanics. The men leave the restaurant and walk down Stephens Green; it is there that they meet Farley, a very rich American who invites them to accompany him on his yacht. Setting out on their journey to the yacht, they take a train to Kingstown and a row boat to the yacht. A very fine experience to Jimmy which allows him to feel the luxury associated with wealth. When the men are settled on the boat they toasted and drank "bohemian” style leading them on to jovial Speeches.
"Flinging themselves boldly" in to a card game, the men start to lay the wealth on the table. Jimmy gets lost in the amount of money owes, "he wished they would stop" because whatever money he had at the start of the game which gave him a high social status was now gone. It was when the piano stopped; the last game of the night came about. Knowing he had no chance of winning, Jimmy observed the power of rich men, they stood with an aura of superiority and Routh (a young English man) won with a vengeance. Once the game had ended Jimmy begins to think he will "regret" his actions in the morning, but morning has come too soon as jimmy lifts his head, it’s already "day break".
The plot of this story is very different to most of Joyce's short stories as his characters come from an upper class background. Normally we see stories of those who experienced a mediocre life style. I believe that Joyce used this plot to show diversity in his writing and look at a different perspective of the Irish life style. I find this plot less interesting towards some of his other stories because he incorporates other countries into "After the Race" and due to this the authenticity of the Irish people is lost.
"Flinging themselves boldly" in to a card game, the men start to lay the wealth on the table. Jimmy gets lost in the amount of money owes, "he wished they would stop" because whatever money he had at the start of the game which gave him a high social status was now gone. It was when the piano stopped; the last game of the night came about. Knowing he had no chance of winning, Jimmy observed the power of rich men, they stood with an aura of superiority and Routh (a young English man) won with a vengeance. Once the game had ended Jimmy begins to think he will "regret" his actions in the morning, but morning has come too soon as jimmy lifts his head, it’s already "day break".
The plot of this story is very different to most of Joyce's short stories as his characters come from an upper class background. Normally we see stories of those who experienced a mediocre life style. I believe that Joyce used this plot to show diversity in his writing and look at a different perspective of the Irish life style. I find this plot less interesting towards some of his other stories because he incorporates other countries into "After the Race" and due to this the authenticity of the Irish people is lost.
http://www.eiretek.org/chapters/books/jamesjoyce.htm